Did you know that you have to cleanse and charge most of your crystals? Some crystals can do it all on their own, like Selenite, but most crystals need a little help to keep on helping you. Let's review all the ways you can cleanse and recharge your crystals in ASCEND's "how to" guide. Keep reading!

💎  What Are Crystals, and Why Should You Cleanse & Charge Them?

Crystals are super-powered gemstones that derive from their structure. Each crystal has distinct properties and abilities, making them distinct from the average rock. Some crystals can even be found in your backyard, like quartz! Some people prefer using crystals as home accents, such as countertops or gravel for the driveway. But highly spiritual people feel called to use crystals to connect with their higher selves, amplify their spiritual journeys, and align with the Universe.

If you regularly use your crystals to reset your aura and empower your energetic field, then you more than likely need to cleanse and charge your crystals. Cleansing your crystals gives them the necessary reset they need to work efficiently. Your crystals absorb the yucky energy around and within you. For example, Rose Quartz and Moss Agate can help absolve grief, heartbreak, and pain. Likewise, Lepidolite and Smoky Quartz would need to be cleansed of anxiety, fear, and insecurity. If you keep your crystals as if, they won't work as well. Some crystals may even crack, fissure, or take on a hazy hue as they get bogged down with stagnant energy. Removing the energy your gemstones have taken on is the first step to restoring your crystals to their full power.

Once your crystals are cleansed of stagnant and stuck energy, it's imperative to charge them. Your crystals need a "pick me up," which will help them feel empowered and ready to take on anything. Giving your crystals a helping hand not only preserves your crystals but also helps you in the long run.

🛁  How to Cleanse Your Crystals

All the crystal lovers and woo-woo enthusiasts recommend cleansing your crystals, but fail to divulge what that means and entails. Some may immediately think that crystals may require a bath with soap and water, but this isn't always the case (or typically advised). You can safely cleanse your crystals using a few different methods. Here's what we recommend:

• High Vibrational Music & Hertz Frequencies
  • Giving your crystals a concert may sound silly, but music has healing properties. Play music or Hertz frequencies around your crystals. You can place your crystals in front of your TV, tablets, laptop, phone, or speakers for your crystals to be bathed in musical notes. You can keep your crystals there for as long as you'd like to play your music.
• Smoke & Smudging 
  • Your crystals can be cleansed through a smoke cleanse or smudging. However, you must be mindful of which materials are part of a closed practice. Instead of using sage or Palo Santo, you could use the following materials: Sandalwood Incense, Lavender, Rosemary, Pine, and Mugwort. 
  • Our Salem neighbor, Coven's Cottage, has fantastic herb bundles designed for smudging.
• Salt Water & Moon Water
  • In some cases, there are certain crystals that can withstand a quick rinse in water. Salt water and/or moon water can wash away the residual energy.
  • A good rule of thumb is that a crystal that rates 6 or higher on the Mohs hardness scale can withstand water. These crystals typically include the following: Quartzes, Amethyst, Carnelian, Citrine, Garnet, Herkimer Diamond, Obsidian, Pink Amethyst, Tiger's Eye, Unakite, and more.
  • Typically, any crystal with a rating lower than 6 on the Mohs hardness scale cannot withstand water. Some crystals even dissolve in water due to prolonged exposure! These crystals include the following: Selenite, Angelite, Aragonite, Celestite, Fluorite, Kyanite, Lepidolite, Malachite (also toxic in water!), Orange Calcite, and more. 
  • When in doubt, opt for a different cleansing method.
• Selenite
  • Selenite not only cleanses and recharges on its own, but it can extend its powerful energies to surrounding crystals. Pick up a Selenite charging plate to place your crystals on when you want them to be restored.
• Sunlight or Moonlight
  • Let your crystals soak up the sunlight or moonlight as a way to restore their energy. Be mindful of which crystals can withstand sunlight, since the sun's powerful beams can lighten a crystal's color over time.

🔋  How to Charge Your Crystals

Cleansing your crystals is the first part of restoring them to their natural energetic state. You could technically stop there, but why not give your gems a spiritual facelift? It's recommended to charge your crystals after cleansing them, since charging your crystals can empower their abilities and magical essence. Charging your crystals can also help you incorporate specific energy and intentions aligned with your crystal's properties. There are a few different methods for charging your crystals. Here's what we recommend:

• Selenite Charging Plate
  
  • Selenite can boost the natural energy of your crystals. Leave your select stones on a Selenite charging plate overnight to cleanse, restore, and recharge your crystals.
• Lunar Phases
  • You can use a specific lunar phase to enhance and align with a particular crystal. First, choose your crystal based on your goals and intentions. Second, find a lunar phase that works best with your intentions. Third, leave the crystal out under the moonbeams during your desired lunar phase.
  • New moons are perfect for goal setting (i.e. using Rose Quartz to find love); Waxing moons work best for action and ambition (i.e. using Bloodstone to energize your root chakra); Full moons are ideal for releasing and reflection (i.e. using Clear Quartz to cleanse your aura).
• Set Intentions with Visualization
  • Hold your crystal in your palm. The left hand works best for receiving energy or calling something in; the right hand aligns with expelling energy or putting something out into this world. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to settle into a meditative rhythm. Once you feel relaxed and clear-minded, visualize what you want your crystal to do. Will your crystal manifest love? Abundance? Opportunity? Decide your intentions to watch it unfold in your mind's eye. Imagine what would happen once your intentions manifest. Pour this energy into your crystal by channeling your intentions, visualizations, and energy into your crystal. Let this continue until you feel like your crystal has absorbed your intentions through visualization. 
• Sleep with Your Crystal
  • Charge your crystal by setting intentions through your dream state. Place your crystals in your pillow case, under your bed, or on a bedside table. As you drift off to sleep, imagine what you want to call into your life with your crystal in mind. When you wake, you can either keep your crystal where it is or use it throughout the day.
  • Recommended crystals: Amethyst, Pink Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Fluorite,  Lepidolite, Moonstone, Black Tourmaline, and Obsidian.

💖  Find Your Perfect Crystal at ASCEND

🤍  Selenite: Cleanses & Charges

As stated above, Selenite is a self-renewing and self-invigorating gem. Its powerful abilities can also do the same for other crystals, your aura, or any sacred space. 

🩷  Rose Quartz: Enhances Love & Compassion

Known as the "Stone of Love", Rose Quartz is a fantastic beginner's stone for enhancing love and compassion. Use Rose Quartz when you need self-compassion, platonic love, or romance.

🖤  Black Tourmaline: Protects Your Energy & Aura

Absorb negativity energy with Black Tourmaline. Although this stone is allegedly self-cleansing, it still requires TLC from handling all the bad vibes for you.

💜  Amethyst: Aligns & Harmonizes Your Spirit

Create harmony in your energetic field and life using Amethyst. This beautiful purple stone will work wonders in aligning your life, and it can be cleansed using Himalayan Salt.

✨  Click here to explore the full collection →

✨  Cleanse Your Aura

Crystals aren't the only things that need to be cleansed and charged! Your aura—a.k.a. your energetic field —also requires TLC. Your aura reflects so much about you, such as your current moods and what may be affecting you. Sometimes, an aura can get a little mucky. Cleanse your aura today with ASCEND's Aura + Cleanse package. See your energy shift in real time pre- and post-aura cleanse and balancing. 

✨  Book Today!

✍️  Meet ASCEND’s In-House Astrologer & Writer

Liz Simmons is a writer, astrologer, and tarot reader based in Salem, MA. Liz is the resident astrologer at ASCEND Get Lifted. Aside from providing astrological readings and tarot readings, Liz writes for ASCEND’s blog. Her expert commentary is featured in over twenty publications, including Cosmopolitan, Shape, Women’s Health, & more. Check out her work on Instagram, @the_ _crone & book a reading with her at ASCEND.